Equalizing mechanism for vehicles



June 7- 932. w. E. N. GORRIE EQUALIZING MECH ANI SM FOR VEHICLES FiledSept. 2 0, 1928 sis or body.

Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM EDWARD NICKOLS GORRIE, OFMIDDLE PARK, NEAR,MELBOURNE, 'VIC'I'ORTA,

AUSTRALIA EQUALIZING MEOHANISM' FOR VEHICLES Application filed September20, 1928, Serial No. 307,234, and in Australia May 22, 1928. i

This invention relates to equalizing mechanism applicable to vehiclesand has been devised for the purpose of absorbing shocks in running asWell as to limit the side sway or lurch of the body of a vehicleparticularly when turning corners or curves. 1

The 'nvention is particularly applicable for damping shocks imparted bythe wheels to the chassis.

The capsizing of vehicles owing to side sway or lurch is not uncommonand is dangerous to human life but hitherto no effective means have beenapplied toa vehicle additionally to ordinary factors or safety, forovercoming the possibility of capsize.

1 This invention has been devised for the purpose of providing simpleand effective mechanism applicable to vehicles, road or rail, which willensure the efficient damping of shocks and also the equalization of themeans being. characterized by the combination of lever and linkmechanism and buffers such-as springs disposed laterally of the vehiclebetween the undercarriage and the chas- An essentialfeature of theinvention comprises co-acting members pivoted at a predetermined pointto the axle bar or undercarriage and yielding bufi'er members arrangedand operating between the said co-actin members and the chassis. f Afurther essential characteristic of the invention consists in thearrangement of means whereby the shock absorbing as wellas theequalizing-function is obtained and the means relationship with the axlebar or undercarriage by standardssecuredthereto, said parallel armsbeing turned at 'one'and opposite ends to present a horizontalportionadapted to receive a bolt and spring'which support the chassis ateach side, the opposite ends of each arm pivotally connecting a linkmember of similar sectin,the lower end of which is turned for a shortdistance at approximately a right angle to frictionally engage with theupper surface of the axle bar or under} carriage, said link membersbeing independe ently pivoted at a suitable point to the axle bar orundercarriage by standards secured thereto..- a f A further essentialfeature embodiedin the invention consists in providing the leaf springsinyielding relationship between the chassis or body and links slidablyarranged on the axle bar or undercarriage, oneof said slidable linksbeing mounted to each of the lower ends ofthe leaf springs, eachslidable link being pivoted to a link connecting the axle bar orundercarriage,the construction beingsuchthat increased resiliency isimparted between the undercarriage or axle and the chassis or body. 7 1V In order that the invention may bemore readily understood, referencewill now be made -to the accompanying drawing in hich;.: .7

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of. the apparatus applied to anautomobile.

- Figure 2 is, a plan thereof.

modified construction of apparatus. H Figure 5 is a view of a detail inconstruction.

vention into practical effect, two spaced par.- allel arms 5 and 6 areprovided on edge and normally horizontal, said" arms being maintained inyieldingrelationship with the axle j Figure 3 is a'view infrontelevation of an i alternative form of apparatus, and 5 y j Figure l-isaview in front elevation of a According to one form of carrying the bar 7by-standardsSpivoted as at 9 to the arms 5 and 6 which are turned at theone and opposite ends 10 to present a horizontal face .11v drilled toreceive a bolt 12 and spring or buffer 13 connecting the chassismemberslt 'ateach sidethereof, said boltsand springs actingv as yieldinbuffers between v the'hori- V zontal armsand t echassis. i

The opposite end '15 of each arm and 6 pivotally connects a sliding linkmember 16 of similar section, the lower end 17 of which is turned atright angles a short distance to P functionally engage with the uppersurface of the a'xlebar 7 Each s'liding link member 16 is independentlypivoted as at 16a to a holding link 18 pivoted at 18a to the axle bar 7.

The bolts 12 "extend 'tl'ifough the horizontal facesll of the arms 5 and6 for a short distance and are fitted with nuts 12a at-the base thereof,the springs 13 being disposed around the bolts '12 between thehorizontal arms and the chassis members 14 as illus trated in Figure 1.

Ksthe body'ofthe vehicle er automobile is the'side swayor lurch of thebody which is particularly apparent in Vehicles as at presentconstructed on turning corners or curves at speed.

When a shock, swaying pressure or "l'urch takes place, it is equalizedby' the mechanism by means of-th'e yielding bu'fiers,fthe*pressurebeingtaken-bythe bufler on'whichside of the automobile orvehicle-the'swaying or lurchmganspna, thesp ring 13 of said b'ufiertaking tlie pressure and on compressionallows the corresponding arms '5or '6'to rise fromfits:'pivot p'osition1'5' with the link member "1 6which" slides outwardly on-th e axle bar 7 to effect theneutralization'ofthe swayp'ie'ss'u'r'e, the members resuming theirnormal relationship "when "this is efl'ected. Thus whn the'vehicleorautomobile is in mo- 'tion, the body thereof is maintained'in a positive an'd vertical position irrespective of the inclination of theaxleso "maintaining the balance of same, thebufters takiifg the..pres-"sure according to the direction or side it is exerted, movement be ng=1'1npaitedto' the coacting nns '5' and '6"which pivot' with thelinkmembers 1 6,causin'g them to slide upon'the "aitle 7 toeqliali'z'e theswaying pressureexerted. V v I I 1 Thus when an automoblle or vehicle istraveling o'nan inclined surface or theside'of a ro'a'dfthemechanismpreviously"described "mai'iitainsthe body of the automobile'orvehic le evenly balanced notwithstanding the "inclination at which itis travelling.,.

Asillustrated in Figure 3, in lieu olf ithe' 'coaccus s-amid arms '5 and6 diagonally disp"'osed "letsarms *19 and '20 may be used, piv-"otedtogtheras at Z21 tothe undercarriage or ail-e mub'stanaany atthe-centre thereof, the lower euds 22 of the' lever arms-extending inopposite directionsto each side ofthe vehicle and pivotally connect asat 23 a vertically sliding rod 24, the upper end 25 of which is recessedand is fitted with a spring orbufl'er 26 on which that side of thechassis or frame 27 of the body rests, the vertically sliding rod 24moving in a bearing'or sleeve 28 fitted to the axle 7 or undercarriage.

The sliding rods 24 in which the springs or buiiers 28 are recessedsupport the chassis or fiarne of the vehicle body on'each si'de'and actas yielding bufiers therefor to effect the functions as hereindescribed. I

The other and uppermost end of each leverarm 19' and 20 extends on theother side-of the pivot 21 to pivotally connect a short arm 29 centrally--pivoted a -t 29a to a-linkBOpivoted e'r endof each short arm 29isfla't surfacedas at 31*and' is i-nsliding engagement with an-upper"surfa'ceon theumdercarriage or 'a-"Xle 7 The chassis or frame 27supporting the vehicle body is thus balanced Y andfsupported on eachside and below the same by the'springs 26 sliding arms 24, pivoted leverarms 19 'and 20and pivoted short-arms 29 in slidinig'con" '29 which"sliding on its adjacent surface on the undercanriage orfaXle -7 holdsthe vehicle body up "to normal balancegabsorbs shocks conditions. 7

The eq-ualizingand damping-'mechanism-as and'mafintains a maximumofsafetyunder all above "described can be readily attached as anaccessory 1 to 1 automobiles, railway, tra m- Way orroadvehicles ofalldescriptions and is 'so' arranged that the 'body' is, supported -on thesprings or other :bufiers while-the mechanismis mounted on theundercarriageoraxle in anysuitableway. I

As illustrated in Figure 4 a simplified-iconstructio'n'with' increasedresiliency-'isvprovided" and inlie'uof theleversand springsabovevdescribed, -resilient members such "as :leaf

slidable engagement with the axle bar 37 or undercarriage. -Midway:between 'the"ends "of the l-ink 36 it is pivotallyiconnected' to a link'38 'whichfiin turn jpivotally connects'the axle bar 37. *fao The leafspring 32 extends from the opposite side of the chassis and to a lowerplane where it pivotally connects the link 39, the opposite end of whichslides on the axle bar 37 or undercarriage, while between the ends ofthe link 39, the latter pivotally connects a link 40 which pivots at 41on the axle bar or undercarriage.

Both the springs 31, 32 are supported by arms 42, 13 either centrallydisposed or to that side of the centre towards the links 36, 39 asillustrated.

The operative function is identical with the functions above describedwith the additional functions that the leaf springs 31, 32 give greaterresiliency to the parts.

If desired and in order tomaintain the links 16, 29, 36 and 39 always incontact with the axle bar or undercarriage, a spring or other device maybe fitted between the said links and axle bar.

This function may be effected by the means illustrated in Figure 4 inwhich the links 16,

29, 36, 39 may be held down by a roller 4% moving over the face of thelink and held by a spring 45 anchored to the axle bar or undercarriageas shown.

The apparatus is fitted to both ends and if desired, in any intermediateposition of the body but I desire it to be understood that the mechanismcan be mounted at any one point as conditions require. 7

Mechanism arranged and operating as above described will be of greatutility and a distinct and added factor of safety and economy in runningand any suitable improvements or modifications may be embodied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the essentialfeature of which consists in the combination of a series of pivotedlevers or resilient members, links and buffers, preferably disposedlaterally of the vehicle and adapted to damp shocks and to support thevehicle body and maintain the normal balance of the body iii relation tothe undergear or axle under all running conditions.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a vehicle, an axle bar, standards rigidly secured to the saidaxle bar, spaced parallel bars pivoted to the said standards, boltsengaging with the chassis of the vehicle, one end of each of the saidbars being turned at right angles to receive a corresponding one of thesaid bolts, a spring about each of the said bolts and mounted betweenthe bars and the chassis, normally vertical link members mounted on theaxle bar, and arms pivotally engaging with their inner ends the saidspaced parallel bars, the upper ends of the said link members pivotallyengaging with the said last mentioned arms, the said arms being providedwith right angled porone end of each of the said arms being connected toa corresponding bolt, and links independently pivoted on the said spacedparallel arms, the lower ends of the said links being turned at rightangles for a short distance to frictionally engage the said axle bar.

3. Apparatus for absorbing shocks and the like in vehicles comprising achassis, an axle bar, buffers, and spaced parallel arms, the

said arms each being normally horizontal and being retained in yieldingcontact with the axle bar and the correspondingside of the chassis bymeans of the said bufiers, the

said buffers each vcomprising a bolt extending from a turned portion ofthe corre sponding end of the corresponding arm and a spring disposedaround the said bolt between the chassis and the turned portion of thearm, and links to which the opposite ends of the arms are engaged, andwhich links are in pivotal and frictional engagement with the axle bar.

4:- Apparatus for absorbing shocks in vehicles and the like comprising achassis, an axle bar, spaced parallel arms normally horizontal and inyielding relation to the axle bar, yielding buffers supporting thechassis from the axle bar and to which the said arms are connected atone of their ends, and links frictionally engaging with the axle bar andto which the opposite ends of the said arms are pivotally connected.

5. Apparatus for absorbing shocks in ve-' hicles or the like comprisinga chassis, an axle bar, coacting members pivoted at a selected point tothe said axle bar, links pivoted to and in frictional engagement withthe said axle bar the said coacting members being pivoted at one end toacorresponding link, the ends of the coacting members which areconnected to the links being opposite to each other, and yieldingbuffers arranged and operated between the said coacting members and thechassis, to which bufiers the other ends of the said coacting membersare connected.

Signed at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, this 23rd day of August,A. D.1928.

WILLIAM EDWARD NICKOLS GORRJE.

